Hands Off! Mass Mobilization
2025-04-05
As the Trump administration seeks to take away our rights, health care, social security, and so much more, we need take to join together in protest and fight back!
When:
April 5th
Where:
Rallies nationwide; visit https://www.mobilize.us/handsoff/map/

Rev. Charles Loflin Guest Pulpit, UU Congregation of Somerset Hills
2025-04-06 10:30 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | UU Congregation of Somerset Hills, 123 Cliff St, Somerville, NJ, 08876, United States
“Have I Got a Story for You”
April 6, 2025 10:30 am

Please join us as guest speaker Rev. Charles Loflin leads our Sunday worship service. You’re welcome to join us in person, or you may visit the calendar for the service link to join online. Visit the Worship menu above for the weekly Order of Service, or use your phone to scan the QR code on our home page.

UUFANJ Board Meeting
2025-04-08 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-05-13 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom
Members/supporters of UU FaithAction NJ are welcome to attend our monthly all-volunteer Board meetings. To access online meetings (all meetings from March 2020 onward will be conducted online) via the Zoom conferencing platform, please contact Board President Mia Morse, at mia.morse19@gmail.com, and request the Zoom login code. You must give at least 48 hours notice to request the code to allow our volunteer board members enough time to reply.
In the event you do not hear back with 48 hours notice, please contact Executive Director Charles Loflin, at execdir@uufaithaction.org or at (908) 376-6535.
As per our bylaws, the board leadership reserves the right to call an executive session of the board to discuss matters not appropriate for a more public conversation.

Monthly Congregational Liaisons Meeting
2025-04-09 19:00 - 19:45, 2025-05-14 19:00 - 19:45
Our monthly meeting for Liaisons is held on the second Wednesday of each month at 7pm.
Here is the Zoom Link:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/96922194091?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 969 2219 4091
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Friday Action Hour
2025-04-11 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-04-18 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-04-25 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-05-02 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-05-09 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-05-16 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-05-23 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
“Friday Action Hour” — Every Friday
Join us at 12 noon, on Zoom, to TAKE ACTION together!
➱➱ bit.ly/1st-fridays

Join us on Zoom!
Topic: Friday Action Hour
Every Friday, 12 PM
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94313960594?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 943 1396 0594
Passcode: [REDACTED]
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At our 2023 Fall Issues Conference, we officially announced the launch of a new initiative for UU FaithAction NJ—”First Fridays Action Hour.” Our Action Hour is inspired by and modeled after the successful program of our sibling state action network, UU Justice North Carolina.
UU FaithAction NJ now hosts a one-hour Zoom meeting on the every Friday, 12 noon to 1pm. During that time, we take action together, in real-time! For those who cannot join us at 12pm on Friday, we provide a Google Doc with all necessary instructions.
An action could be almost anything, like making a phone call to key legislators to express your support for a bill. We briefly outline the talking points, provide you with a sample script and then the phone number of the legislators to call. And you make the call right there—in real time.
You don’t have to prepare. You don’t have to commit to coming to every single Action Hour. This is not a committee, nor a commitment—it is a come-as-you-are-able opportunity!
Can’t join us on a particular Friday, or maybe noon is just never gonna work for your schedule? No problem! The Google Doc will have all the information you need so that you can take the action at a time convenient for you. Not only that— we hope you will share the action with your congregation or community, and our one little pebble can start to produce ripples.

The Ordination of Lisa Schilansky
2025-04-12 14:00 - 16:00 | First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia, 2125 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
Join First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia and the Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing in celebrating Lisa Schilansky’s Ordination into Unitarian Universalist Ministry.
Where: First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia – 2125 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA and on Zoom
When: Saturday, April 12th – Service begins at 2:00pm – Reception to follow
Please RSVP here: https://forms.gle/kT3NasYnbfYVYzK78
Suggested Attire: Festive
If you would like to contribute to the cost of this joyous celebration, please donate here: https://firstunitarianchurch.breezechms.com/give/online and choose “Ordination” from the drop-down menu. Any remaining funds will be used for future Ordinations at First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia.
If you have any questions, please email lisa.ordination@gmail.com

Environmental Justice Task Force monthly call
2025-04-16 15:15 - 17:00, 2025-05-21 15:15 - 17:00 | Zoom
Monthly Environmental Justice Task Force meeting to discuss current issues, updates and strategies

Would you like to join in the conversation, find out what’s going on *now* in New Jersey around environmental justice? Then join our statewide call held the 1st Thursday of every month at 12 noon sharp. All are invited.
For more info and to join the call, contact Environmental Justice Task Force EJTF (environment@uufaithaction.org), or administrator (admin@uufaithaction.org).

Third Friday Action Hour
2025-04-18 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-05-16 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
“Friday Action Hour” — The 1st & 3rd Friday of every month!
Join us at 12 noon, on Zoom, to TAKE ACTION together!
➱➱ bit.ly/1st-fridays

Join us on Zoom!
Topic: Friday Action Hour
Every month on the First Friday, 12 PM
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94313960594?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 943 1396 0594
Passcode: [REDACTED]
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+1 646 931 3860 US
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

At our 2023 Fall Issues Conference, we officially announced the launch of a new initiative for UU FaithAction NJ—”First Fridays Action Hour.” Our Action Hour is inspired by and modeled after the successful program of our sibling state action network, UU Justice North Carolina.
UU FaithAction NJ now hosts a one-hour Zoom meeting on the first & third Friday of every month, 12 noon to 1pm. During that time, we take action together, in real-time! For those who cannot join us at 12pm on Friday, we provide a Google Doc with all necessary instructions.
An action could be almost anything, like making a phone call to key legislators to express your support for a bill. We briefly outline the talking points, provide you with a sample script and then the phone number of the legislators to call. And you make the call right there—in real time.
You don’t have to prepare. You don’t have to commit to coming to every single Action Hour. This is not a committee, nor a commitment—it is a come-as-you-are-able opportunity!
Can’t join us on a particular Friday, or maybe noon is just never gonna work for your schedule? No problem! The Google Doc will have all the information you need so that you can take the action at a time convenient for you. Not only that— we hope you will share the action with your congregation or community, and our one little pebble can start to produce ripples.

Criminal Justice Reform Monthly Conference Call
2025-04-21 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-05-19 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Join us on the third Monday of the month from 7–8 PM for our UU statewide Criminal Justice Reform call, where we strategize around issues like racial justice, mass incarceration, prison conditions and more.
For the Zoom or phone dial-up information to join the call, and/or to get on the email list for upcoming meetings and events, please contact admin@uufaithaction.org.

UPLIFT Trans/Non-Binary Gathering
2025-04-22 20:00 - 21:00 | Zoom
Register to Attend
UPLIFT Gatherings
Fourth Tuesdays September-June
1.5 hours starting at 8 Eastern Time/7 Central Time/6 Mountain Time/5 Pacific Time
Join the UPLIFT monthly gatherings for trans, nonbinary, and other not-entirely-or-at-all-cis UUs and friends of UUism. Join us to connect with other trans/nonbinary+ UUs and co-create support and community across our faith. All you need to bring is yourself (and other trans/nonbinary friends, if you’d like)! Non-UUs are welcome if they are OK with being in a UU-focused community (we won’t proselytize). If you are interested in this space, and you aren’t (entirely or at all) cisgender, it’s a space for you.
What do we do during the gatherings? They are a cozy community space where we connect with each other with games and breakout groups, share ideas and stories on all kinds of topics, listen to music and poetry (often by trans/nonbinary+ creators), and much more!
This is a drop-in space, where folks can come and go as works best for them, and where people can join us at any time. You can be a regular or someone new, someone who’s been curious for a while but hasn’t yet checked us out, somebody who is rejoining after time away, and all other ways of relating to this space! You are welcome here, and you are loved.
Check out our covenant if you’re wondering more about how we are in community together.
All-Ages Community
This space is intentionally multi-generational. It is open to and welcoming of trans/nonbinary elders as well as children, youth, and young adults. Standard UUA online safety measures apply to ensure all people under 18 are able to attend. We’re glad to have you here!
Accessibility Information
Closed captioning will be available, and any common chat content will also be spoken aloud. Please be mindful of processing and communication access, and speak one at a time. The meeting will not be recorded, and participation, as well as what is shared, will be confidential. There is no requirement to appear on video or to otherwise maintain “conventional” appearances. Any additional accessibility needs? Let us know by emailing lgbtq@uua.org or aballou@uua.org! We’ll do our best to ensure you can fully access the space.
Registration
To attend the next gathering and join the community, REGISTER TODAY.

MLK People's Convention
2025-04-26 09:00 - 16:00 | Essex County College, Newark
MARTIN LUTHER KING
PEOPLE’S CONVENTION FOR
JUSTICE & RESISTANCE
SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2025
8:30 A.M. — 4:00 P.M.
ESSEX COUNTY COLLEGE
303 UNIVERSITY AVENUE
NEWARK, N.J.
Sponsored by People’s Organization for Progress. Endorsed by Local 108 Retail Wholesale Department Store Union UFCW AFL-CIO; Newark Branch NAACP; Morris County Branch NAACP; New Jersey Black Issues Convention; International Black Women’s Congress; African Diaspora for Justice; New Jersey Poor People’s Campaign; International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 21; South Ward Environmental Alliance; 350 NJ-Rockland, Greenfaith International; New Jersey Green Sustainable Group; December 12th Movement; Clinton Hill Seniors In Action; New Jersey Peace Action; Ceasefire Now NJ; Jewish Voice for Peace Northern New Jersey Chapter; SOMA Collective for Palestine; Pax Christi; Jersey City Non-Violence Coalition; Stevens Institute Students for Justice in Palestine; Elombe Brath Coalition; Omega Psi Phi-Upsilon Chapter; Corey Lewis Teague; Hudson County Sierra Club; Bread Is Rising; Newark North Jersey Committee Of Black Churchmen; Hafiz Farid/ Foremost Productions; Food & Water Watch; Marques-Aquil Lewis Civic Association; Black Lives Matter Elizabeth; National United Youth Council; Irvington NAACP; Make The Road New Jersey; New Brunswick Area Branch NAACP; Seton Hall University Martin Luther King Scholarship Association; Tom Paine Brigade; Hoboken United Tenants; Jersey City Food Not Bombs; Hackensack Riverkeeper, Inc.; HPAE Local 5089; Bethany Baptist Church; All Politics Are Local; National Black
Political Convention; Man Village Men’s Support Group; Islay Walden Education Alliance; New Jersey Communities for Accountable Policing; New Jersey Chapter of the National Action Network; Jumpstart; Journey To Justice; Greater Newark Chapter of the National Action Network; Committee To Eliminate Media Offensive To African People; NAACP New Jersey State Conference; African- American Commission of Camden; Gregory Thomas Foundation; Grandmaster Khalil’s Generation II
Ippon Do School of Martial Arts; The Law And Policy Group; Mt.Teman AME Church; MAPSO Freedom School; Good Neighbor Baptist Church; Newark Interfaith Alliance; The Radical Elders; The Muslim League of Voters of New Jersey; Philadelphia Black Radical Congress; and North Jersey Black Caucus for Social Justice.
For more information or to register for the convention email info@njpop.org

Reproductive Justice Task Force Monthly Call
2025-04-28 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
The monthly conference call to update and strategize around reproductive justice and rights in New Jersey. Join us monthly on the fourth Monday, 7-8 PM.
For Zoom invitation and agenda, please email reprojustice@uufaithaction.org attn. Carol Loscalzo, Task Force Chair.
Carol A. Loscalzo (The Unitarian Society of Ridgewood) is Task Force Chair. For more information on reproductive justice, please email reprojustice@uufaithaction.org attn. Carol Loscalzo.
For general inquiries about our Task Forces, email admin@uufaithaction.org.

IJTF Monthly Meeting
2025-05-01 20:00 - 21:00
Admin is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 972 4054 2415
Passcode: [REDACTED]
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Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/acPBc4ZRV0

UU the State House
2025-05-05 | NJ State House Annex, 125 W State St NJ 08608, Trenton, NJ, 08608, United States
Save the Date! UU FaithAction NJ is planning a special “UU the State House” day in Trenton on Monday, May 5th. Spend the day in our state capital learning about our legislative process and how grassroots activists makes a difference. Special guests and agenda TBA.

"It's My Issue Too" – Interfaith Vigil For Immigrant Justice
2025-05-10 14:00 - 17:00 | Trinity United Methodist Church, 213 Main St., Hackettstown, United States
An Interfaith Vigil to show solidarity to our immigrant community in Warren County, a call to stand up and speak out and ways that love and justice can be carried out through each of us.
Join with several denominations from our local community to offer this time and space to connect and to learn.
Vigil followed by an informal gathering with light refreshments.
SATURDAY, May 10th at 2pm

Trinity United Methodist Church
213 Main St.
Hackettstown

"Have I Got a Story for You" | Rev. Charles at UU Fellowship of Sussex County
2025-05-11 10:30 - 11:30 | Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Sussex County, 1 West Nelson St., Newton, 07860
Join Rev. Charles Loflin, Executive Director of UU FaithAction NJ, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Sussex County on May 11th, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
You can attend the service in-person at the Fellowship, or view the program online using the link below:

UUFSC: 1 West Nelson Street, Newton, NJ
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/kss-abvh-ipw

The RE program will be held at the Fellowship only.
“Have I Got a Story for You.” Storytelling is a powerful means of gathering and communicating information, literally helping us make sense of the world. Stories are wondrous things. However, author and lecturer Thomas King reminds us that they are also dangerous, as he warns, “Don’t say in the years to come that you would have lived your life differently if only you had heard this story. You’ve heard it now.” Led by Rev. Charles Loflin, Executive Director of UU FaithAction NJ.

“Responding to the Anti-Trans Movement” | Pt. 1 w/ Emily Parker
2025-05-20 19:00 - 20:15 | Zoom
Join Emily Parker (Communications Director, UUFANJ) for a viewing party of parts 1 and 2 of the 3-part video training series: “Responding to the Anti-Trans Movement.” You are welcome to join us to watch the first two videos together, on May 20th at 7pm, or to view the first two videos on your own time.
Then, be sure to join us on May 27 at 7pm, to watch the final video, followed by a discussion and Q & A moderated by Alex Kapitan!

At our General Assembly in June 2024 the UUA issued the following statement: “On behalf of the member congregations and communities of the UUA, we proclaim that our principles and values unequivocally commit our faith to honor and celebrate the full spectrum of gender identity and expression.”
Our faith tradition calls upon all of us to care for those most at risk. During this time of relentless attack on the trans community, as Unitarian Universalists we stand by trans children, youth and adults. However, in order to be effective allies, and do no harm, we must educate ourselves.
We invite all UU clergy, staff, members and friends to please join us for a special program, “Responding to the Anti-Trans Movement,” presented by our UU Faith Action NJ Reproductive Justice Task Force and the Transforming Hearts Collective.
“Responding to the Anti-Trans Movement” is a 3-part video series. Participants are asked to watch the first two videos prior to our program. We will then gather over Zoom on May 27, 2025 at 7pm to watch the final video, followed by a discussion and Q & A moderated by Alex Kapitan.

Registration is forthcoming.
** Please share this event via internal-facing congregational communications only **

Please do share via your congregational newsletter, Sunday announcements, and with teams such as your Social Justice Committee and Welcome Team.
Please do NOT share via public-facing communications, such as social media and the front page of your website.

"Have I Got a Story for You" | Rev. Charles at Dorothea Dix UU
2025-05-25 10:00 - 11:00 | Dorothea Dix Unitarian Universalist Community of Bordentown, New Jersey, 08505, 39 Park St, Bordentown, 08505, United States
Join Rev. Charles Loflin, Executive Director of UU FaithAction NJ, at the Dorothea Dix Unitarian Universalist Community of Bordentown, New Jersey, on May 25th, 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
The Sunday service will be presented live at 39 Park St. at 10:00 a.m. and streamed over ZOOM

Meeting ID: 609 444 9349
Password: [REDACTED]
ZOOM direct link

“Have I Got a Story for You.” Storytelling is a powerful means of gathering and communicating information, literally helping us make sense of the world. Stories are wondrous things. However, author and lecturer Thomas King reminds us that they are also dangerous, as he warns, “Don’t say in the years to come that you would have lived your life differently if only you had heard this story. You’ve heard it now.” Led by Rev. Charles Loflin, Executive Director of UU FaithAction NJ.

“Responding to the Anti-Trans Movement” | Finale w/ Alex Kapitan
2025-05-27 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
At our General Assembly in June 2024 the UUA issued the following statement: “On behalf of the member congregations and communities of the UUA, we proclaim that our principles and values unequivocally commit our faith to honor and celebrate the full spectrum of gender identity and expression.”
Our faith tradition calls upon all of us to care for those most at risk. During this time of relentless attack on the trans community, as Unitarian Universalists we stand by trans children, youth and adults. However, in order to be effective allies, and do no harm, we must educate ourselves.
We invite all UU clergy, staff, members and friends to please join us for a special program, “Responding to the Anti-Trans Movement,” presented by UU Faith Action NJ, our Reproductive Justice Task Force and Alex Kapitan of the Transforming Hearts Collective.
“Responding to the Anti-Trans Movement” is a 3-part video series. Participants are asked to watch the first two videos prior to our program. We will then gather over Zoom on May 27, 2025 at 7pm to watch the final video, followed by a discussion and Q & A moderated by Alex Kapitan.
Zr. Alex Kapitan, Facilitator
Zr. Alex Kapitan is a community minister, educator, consultant and anti-oppression activist. A trans and queer lifelong Unitarian Universalist, Alex has been working for almost two decades helping people expand their understandings, open their hearts, and practice solidarity across lines of gender, sexuality, race, class, dis/ability, age and more, along with helping congregations engage in culture shift. Alex previously worked at the national headquarters of the Unitarian Universalist Association supporting Welcoming Congregation, anti-racism, and social justice programming, and has served on numerous faith-based LGBTQ leadership bodies.
REGISTER HERE
** Please share this event via internal-facing congregational communications only **

Please do share via your congregational newsletter, Sunday announcements, and with teams such as your Social Justice Committee and Welcome Team.
Please do NOT share via public-facing communications, such as social media and the front page of your website.
